Readers,
My sincerest apologies.
Got in a little late tonight. I promise you this, I will post an update tomorrow — when my eyes have stayed closed for at least 6 hours consecutively. Yeah, that would be real nice. I’ll get you caught up on all the recent, wonderful activities over the busy holiday weekend.
Good Night to most and Good Morning to some,
As I cleaned out my mess of a crap drawer this week, I found a useless old cell phone. “Useless” by my standards. With a cracked screen and creaky flip spring, at one point I thought it failed my cell phone standards and I upgraded to another. Thinking this phone would come in handy one day, I stashed it away to be stumbled upon sometime later. That “sometime later” came at the perfect time. On my lunch break today, I parked in a jam-packed AT&T parking lot and scurried in with all the other Black Friday holiday shoppers, not with the intention of buying, but giving.
The “Reuse & Recycle” Program is a program to donate any unused and unwanted cell phone equipment so that it can be reused and recycled for others. Whether it is a cell phone or the battery and accessories that accompany a new phone, all items are accepted at all AT&T stores nationwide or can be mailed to the a collection site. Donated cell phones and equipment go to single mothers, servicemen outside of American borders and others who lack the resources or ability to purchase a brand new phone for themselves.
So, how can you help too? Take any unused wireless phone product to an AT&T retail store near you and drop it off for recycling. The program runs year-round, each year. There’s no excuse to upgrade your phone and throw the old one in the trash when you know that it can serve someone else much better than it will ever serve the garbage truck.
Happy Serving and Happy Giving. Go search through your junk drawer, find that phone that’s been there for months and get it to the “Reuse and Recycle” Program.
Most importantly, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. I hope you are as aware of your blessings as I am this season. As I have the pleasure of visiting with family I have not seen in over two years, I have found extreme joy through relishing in all the things I am thankful for this year. My family’s healthy and amazing. My friends are fabulous. The roof over my head stands untouched night after night. I have a great job with co-workers I enjoy. I have two puppies who bring laughter and joy with every whimper of “pay attention to me”. I am healthy myself and any need or desire I have has been filled to the fullest. I am blessed. And I do not say it enough, but Lord, thank You for how wonderful this life is. And I bring praise to Your name for how much more wonderful life eternal will be at Your side, in the presence of an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator God.
Psalm 136:1 — “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
For today’s action, again some of the ladies on this 40-Day Giving Challenge teamed up to provide hot Thanksgiving Day meals to people who came through the Nashville Rescue Mission today. With just a few dollars we were able to feed over 10 people today. Those are 10 people who will be thankful to have a meal today. For just $2.26, one meal was provided. While I take for granted the availability of a warm, yummy turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberry jam, green beans and apple pie, those amenities are hard to come by for many.
In the fun of good cheer and the joy of family, what I would usually grunt over became much-enjoyed, quality time with Mom and Dad. After finishing up our Thanksgiving meal and cleaning the kitchen, Mom and I sat down for a few board games. Following the games, Mom had the idea to begin packing up her Fall decorations and putting out her plethora of Christmas decorations. Because it was something that crept up on us last year, we were not able to have a Christmas tree or any holiday decorations. This year was going to be different. So, we set out to bring 8,000 boxes out of the attic and unpack each and every one of them to fill the home with Christmas cheer. And let me tell you, it looks like Santa pooped on our house. And it’s beautiful. Haha. (Oh, I crack myself up.) Since I’ve stepped away from all the Santa pooping to write you, I’ll leave you for now and get back to the strategically hiding the German Christmas Pickle and lighting the ceramic Christmas Tree that Mom handmade back in the 1980′s.
As this day comes to a close, remember how blessed you are. “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase THANKSGIVING, to the glory of God.” — 2 Corinthians 4:15
So ladies, how many extra dresses do you have hanging in your closet that have not seen daylight for many, MANY light years? If you’re like me, those dresses have not left a hanger since that Fairytale Night otherwise known as Prom.
Yes, ”Jesus Prom” sounds a little obscure. But the heartbeat behind it is phenomenal. Jesus Prom is an event that will be held by the Hillvue Heights Church Senior High Ministry for others in the city who would not normally have the opportunity to attend a Prom in the usual high school setting. These may be students with physical or mental disabilities, but the common denominator for those who are invited to Jesus Prom is that they lack the ability and resources to join in the common high school Prom.
Because this event will take much from many, I wanted to give something that would help make this night special for at least three young ladies. I pulled out three dresses (those that have not seen daylight) and took them to the church so that when Jesus Prom arrives, three ladies will be laced in beautiful, FREE gowns. There will be many more opportunities to serve at Jesus Prom if it seems to be something you’re interested in serving for as well. There is need for monetary donations to make it happen, set up and tear down crews to turn a church building into picture perfect Prom setting, guests to volunteer as chaperones, along with many other opportunities. The first annual Hillvue Heights Church “Jesus Prom” is February 18, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. For more information, feel free to call Pastor Chase at the church. The number is 842-0012. Or visit the Volunteer Teams’ page of the Jesus Prom 2011.
In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus says, “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”
Let us have the heart of Jesus to dine and commune with those who cannot repay us.
Yesterday was a special day. : ) I got to join my brothers and sisters at Hillvue in welcoming one of our own back to the community. Our dear friend Stephanie had the opportunity to go on a Medical Missionary Trip to Kenya for two months. While completing two of her clinical rotations for graduate school, Stephanie was able to spread the Gospel to the far reaches of the world. We were so proud of her boldness in traveling to an unfamiliar place and of her willingness to step out of her comfort zone to make a difference for the call of Christ. She was so sorely missed, not only be those of us at Hillvue but especially by her fiance, who was so strong and bold in her absence. It was her fiance, Justin, who gave many of us an opportunity to serve yesterday. Unbeknownst to Stephanie, there was a little shindig in her honor following the evening service at church. Although an announcement was made about refreshments in the Fellowship Hall, it was not until she entered the room and saw the “Welcome Home” balloons that Stephanie knew she’d been duped. Haha. She was so surprised to have a celebration of her return to Bowling Green. Many of the women at church supplied appetizers, desserts and drinks for Stephanie’s celebration, while many of the men contributed by washing dishes and cleaning up our mess in the Fellowship Hall.
Stephanie has been so blessed to travel abroad under the circumstances she did and we have been beyond blessed by her fearlessness and her servant’s heart. I have been so deeply enthralled with Stephanie’s stories of her journey through Africa. You can share in her journey as well by checking out her blog. She wrote as often as she could, adding pictures and sharing the true condition of the world outside of our American lenses. As seen through Stephanie’s eyes, the story of the people of Kenya broke my heart. The perspective of Stephanie’s blog made me more aware of how blessed I am with good health, an abundance of love, never having concern for where my next meal will come from, being clothed and sheltered on a daily basis. How truly blessed we are. And yet we fail to recognize it so many times. We have our American tunnel vision turned on so powerfully that we forget about those outside of us.
May the church lose our American perspective. And may I open my eyes to those outside of the US borders. Lord, let me see through your eyes, have the desires of Your heart and seek to fulfill the needs of Your people here on Earth. Not just in the United States, but across the globe – into places I have never heard of, to people who speak unfamiliar languages, to faces who look very different from mine, into hearts who desire to know You.
My fellow giver, Mariah Yates, learned of this great way to supply needed grains of rice through freerice.com. The website is sponsored by the United Nations World Food Programme and works in conjunction with the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University to help end world hunger. FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Programme. FreeRice has two goals: To provide education to everyone for free and to help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. The “free” part is made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who advertise on the website.
It is such a neat game that provides so much to so many with very little effort. Maybe just a little time and some brain power. It is limitless as to how many questions you can answer and in turn, how many grain of rice you can supply to people in need. For every correct answer, you donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme. I realize that this sounds nerdy but the game is FUN. I want to encourage anyone reading along today to go to freerice.com and begin playing. You can choose from several different subjects and trust me, some you might need a refresher course on. Haha. Unashamedly, I believe I answered questions for a total of three hours, off and on. Another great thing about this website is that you can leave the internet browser and return to it hours later and your same game continues. And your grain total remains where it was when you exited the browser.
So, go ahead. Visit freerice.com and supply tons of rice to people in need. Oh, and get smarter.
Matthew 25:34-46
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
It’s Day 20 — meaning we’re at the halfway point. : ) And we’re loving it. “We” being Jessie Mathieu and myself. Don’t forget to keep checking in on her blog about all her daily giving activities.
Many times, we’ll do something together and others, she’s got a whole different take on her activities for today. Like today, Jessie was not at my house bright and early cooking breakfast for my Mom. Haha. Instead, she was out raking leaves for a women who was in dire need of some help maintaining her responsibilities at home due to a recent loss in her life.
As mentioned, this morning I woke up uber early to bless my Momma. It being her 60th birthday and all, I figured she deserved something a little special today. Not that she’s not deserving of the royal treatment everyday, but birthdays are the perfect excuse to do many nice things you may have been holding out on. For my Mom, I wanted her to wake up feeling special and loved. As the puppies got louder and louder, I was convinced Mom would come out of her bedroom before I was completely done preparing her gourmet breakfast but I was wrong. As soon as I finished with cooking yummy cinnamon apple pancakes, sausage and biscuits, bacon and eggs, I went into her bedroom, laid down next to her and cuddled up. Wishing her Happy Birthday, I told her she had a scrumptuous breakfast waiting for her. She smiled and thanked me. : ) And has been talking about it all day long.
Another short post — precise and to the point.
I have been searching for opportunities to give my old winter jackets away and I found my opportunity reading through an insert in the Bowling Green Daily News newspaper. “Cram the Cruiser” is a campaign by the BG City Police to fill a police cruiser with as many jackets as possible and bless those without warmth through the holiday season. I do not know details on who will receive the coats or when that might take place, but I am happy to be able to give to such a wonderful cause.
I love the idea of helping and encouraging those who serve and protect our country. As the holiday season approaches, an opportunity came about to be able to write Christmas letters to the men and women of the military. Bowling Green Municipal Utilities collected cards to send overseas just in time for the Christmas season. With a goal of collecting 10,000 or so. They asked that each person bring 10 or as many as possible. Although I’ll never see the reaction on their faces or the joy in their eyes, I hope these cards and notes of encouragement bring happiness to a desolate Christmas season.
I’m a planner; I will always be. I might be able to let loose the reigns but I will never not be a list-maker. It’s my sanity. Haha. But as much as I love to be organized, it can be my kryptonite in the 40 Days of Giving. It is a terribly hard minute-by-minute choice to live in the present, live in the moment and not think so forward to the next activity that I miss the joy of the here and now.
I’m missing the point.
The point is to give out of overflow of the heart, and for the advancement of God’s Word into a lost world, to all who are in need, even to the point of pain. Period. No disqualifiers. Not to give what I can, when I can because I want to and only if it conveniently fits in my daily routine. It’s about giving – no matter the cost, convenience, comfort, recipient or ease.
I have begun the process of change. I have a new daily evaluation for this giving challenge. As I’ve laid my head down to rest these past few nights, the question has changed from “What’s on the schedule for tomorrow? What am I going to do for someone tomorrow?” to “What did I do for someone else today? How was I able to help another person today?” My thoughts are being challenged. They are changing from planning to reflecting, methodical to spontaneous, routine to unusual, me-decided to God-inspired.
I want to make myself available to all opportunities of service to others. Not only the one that fit into my schedule. This has been such a learning and growing process.
Guilt took up residence in my heart yesterday as I drove past a man in a stalled vehicle on the side of Nashville Road. I had already committed to other acts of service and was, in fact, on my way to meet with a friend for bible study and to make rice krispies treats. This feeling of debilitating conviction resurfaced on my way to work this morning as I passed by a gentleman walking down Nashville Road, the same well-dressed man who I have seen walking multiple times over the last couple of months.
What kept me from lending him a ride? “I might be late for work plus I’m taking a box of goodies to church tonight for Operation Christmas Child.” As if one act of service counts for another. It’s okay that I passed up the chance to prevent a man from walking in 32 degree weather because I’m blessing a child tonight. PLEASE! How sad of me to reason and rationalize with myself that this logic is acceptable to God. Forgive me Lord.
Okay, I needed that little lecture to myself. In keeping with tradition, let me share with you the last couple of days’ experience of service.
As many of you are aware, September and October were very difficult for my family. My two year old niece was contracted the e-coli bacteria. In a terrifyingly uncertain time, she went through two blood transfusions, temporarily lost kidney function, had a blood platelet transfusion and, PRAISE JESUS, was cleared by all of her doctors on November 2 to go back to school as a completely well child. During my sister’s 8-week terror, there was a continual need for disinfected surfaces, chemically treated carpets, bleach-treated toys and constant use of hand sanitizer.
I was recently made aware of a campaign called “Softness Worth Sharing” held by Kleenex where a box of tissues can be sent to anyone in the United States and Canada at no cost. By going to Kleenex.com and going to the “Send a Free Share Package” link, you can select a person to bless and even add a personal message to the box.
I sent a box to my sister with a personalized message that said, “To be used to help your house stay clean for Kendall. : )” I hope it brightens her day and, more importantly, helps Kendall to stay as healthy as ever.
Last night, I also got to spend the evening with Ashlyn, who I’ve shared with you about before. We made a Kroger run for Rice Krispies and other treat ingredients, got home to cook pizza and prepare our yummy desserts, dove into the second chapter of our Elizabeth George’s bible study “A Young Woman After God’s Own Heart” and ended the night with our homemade rice krispie treats. We made so much that Ashlyn took some home to her family and I brought some into work for my co-workers today.
On to the next. On, on to the next one. Day 17.
Tonight, I was super enthusiastic about dropping off a shoebox filled with toys and books, toothbrushes and body soaps. We are smack dab in the middle of National Collection Week through Samaritan’s Purse, the organization that oversees “Operation Christmas Child”. This organization provides gifts for children all over the world that would normally not receive anything this holiday season. You have the option of choosing a young boy or girl, of varied ages as well. I chose to shop and package a shoebox for a 5-9 year old boy, who has no idea that people are providing for him and praying for him. I pray he knows Jesus or meets Jesus through a simple shoebox. Here’s the jam-packed box.
Check out samaritanspurse.org for more information on how you can provide a better Christmas for a child on the other side of the globe.
A super great friend gave the rest of us giving ladies a super cool, unconventional opportunity to bless others through St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. The Ranch accepts the fronts of old greeting cards. Once the old cards are received, the kids at the St. Jude’s Ranch decorate and make their own cards. The final step is to display the kids’ creations online and sell them to raise money. If you’re like every other woman in the world, you’re a stock-piler and you have cards lying around from years and years ago, serving no purpose except to take up space. This is a great opportunity to give your old greeting cards to an organization that turns them into treasures. This year St. Jude’s Ranch began accepting cards from every occasion: holiday, graduation, birthday, sympathy, wedding, etc. To find out more information or to donate your own old cards, visit the Recycled Card Program at stjudesranch.org/help_card.
Today I want to share one major way that the Lord spoke to me this weekend. He has continually been revealing Himself to me in more profound ways. Not the least of them are through last night’s sermon at the Gathering, during women’s bible studies, through songs on the radio, through my quiet time and through a conversation with Sean, a great friend and dear brother in Christ.
Jesus humbled me yesterday, through the words of this amazing Godly man. Sunday was Sean’s birthday. I walked into the basement of the new building and immediately saw Sean in the distance. I hurried over to him, gave him a BIG bear hug, wished him a “Happy Birthday” and asked him how his day had been. He said “Thanks Becca. It’s been great,” and with much enthusiasm, “People are coming to know Jesus as their personal Savior today!” It saddens me now at my next action. I quickly bypassed his comment for another topic. Squeezing his arm, I said “OH, OH! And how AMAZING was yesterday’s win?” I was referring to Saturday’s WKU Football victory over Arkansas State off of a two-point conversion in overtime.
The birthday boy (also WKU Football Team Chaplain, I might add) was quick to show me what was important. And I thank Sean for that. He responded to my question with a statement that I hope stays with me, “It was good.” He paused. “But people are being saved today! The win was fun but it’s just football. Becca, people are being won by Christ. People know Jesus today! I hope I am always more fired up about the Kingdom growing than I am about a game or a birthday.” Shazzam.
Oh, how badly my ears needed to soak that in. I needed to rest on that for way MORE than a moment. Sean was so right. And I was so NOT. I was actively thinking in my human mind, not from a Heavenly perspective. I should rejoice when Jesus welcomes a new member to the body of Christ. Sadly, and more times than I would like to admit, I find myself more enthusiastic about getting out of work on time, finding a heads-up penny on the ground or finding out that my windshield wipers are functional during a heavy rain than in my joy over gaining a new brother or sister in Christ.
The Lord’s desire is not that. Neither should mine be. My heart’s joy is to be in alignment with His. How terrible that is and how deeply I desire to change that about myself. Through God’s grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, I hope to grow in that.
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” — Romans 10:1
This is my prayer and desire. I want to rejoice like the angels do.
———————————————————————————————-
Today is a special day — It’s the one year anniversary of a wonderful friend’s decision to be obedient to Christ through baptism.
I sent a letter in honor and celebration of the decision she made November 15, 2009. Because I mailed her card on Saturday, I anticipate Chelsea receiving it today and I truly hope it brings a smile to her face, for as many times as she does mine. Chelsea is on fire for Christ, passionately seeking after Him and making herself available to His purpose for her life. Her fervor and passion have proven very contagious for many people, including yours truly. I was proud to witness her baptism one year ago and I am just as encouraged to see her flourish in the Word and grow more deeply rooted in God’s Truth.
Chelsea, you rock. Keep rockin’ and do it for Jesus.
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” — Romans 6:6
“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” — Romans 10:10
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” — Ephesians 4:22-24
“But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, ‘Great is the LORD!’” — Psalm 40:16
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12
“And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” — Hebrews 5:9
“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.” — Isaiah 45:22
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” — John 3:17
Have I overdone it yet? Maybe so, but it is TRUTH. And it serves to encourage me as I write and hopefully it encourages you as you read as well.
